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While the basic perception of the use of gardens is to sustain human needs, gardens symbolize life and how it can be created by simply placing a tiny seed into the earth and properly caring for it. In The Poisonwood Bible, Nathans garden illustrates his ignorance of Congolese customs while the plants in the garden that refuse to bear fruit reflect the deterioration of African culture because of Western imperialism.
When going to the Congo, each family member took with them what they thought was vital and left the rest of their world behind. Nathan decided to carry over seeds from his garden in order to bring a part of America over to Africa. His intentions at first were pure, He planned to make a demonstration garden, from which wed gather a harvest for our table and also supply food and seeds to villagers&The grace of our good intentions made me feel wise, blessed, and safe& (Kingsolver 36). However, his unfamiliarity towards the customs of Kilanga is shown in his attempts. Leah who helped plant her father’s garden in Georgia makes the connection and realizes, It only takes five days in hot weather for a Kentucky Wonder bean to gather up its vegetable willpower and germinate. That was all we thought we needed (Kingsolver 64). Nathan is confident that he knows what he is doing and that his American cultivation method will work. After a few failed attempts, he slowly realizes that his seeds arent viable in the native soil. The struggles the seeds go through in being unable to sprout under the conditions in the Congo also proves the difficulties Nathan has adapting to his new environment. Even after Mama Tabata shows him how to tend the soil, he is defiant. This action foreshadows Nathans inflexibility that will occur in the Congo. The garden exposes Nathans character traits, such as being ignorant and his belief in white superiority, that leads to the major downfall in his mission of saving the unenlightened Congolese people.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s imperialism in Africa was prominent. Many countries wanted to exploit Africa for its rich resources while spreading their own culture. Since Africa was split into tribes and had no main foundation of government, it was easy for countries to colonize there. The seeds were also easily brought to the Congo in Nathans pocket with the sole purpose to produce food. Nathan creates his garden with an American mindset and expects them to grow. However, his inability to adapt to African soil denies him the satisfaction of his plants bearing any fruit. The struggle the seeds go through to grow illustrate how Nathans baptist beliefs are unable to expand in Kilanga. Nathan is, So determined to win or force or drag them over the Way of the Cross (Kingsolver 70). While the Kilangese remain to resist his attempt of conversion, Nathan keeps on forcing his beliefs and preachings onto them. This represents the Western imperialist views and the disregard for native ways that was occurring in this era.
Nathans garden portrays many themes and further reveals Nathans character in the book. The garden illustrates Nathans ignorance in the Congo and his inability to adapt to his new environment. The unbearing fruit in the garden demonstrate how African tribes reacted to Western imperialism in this time era.
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